Contacting Properties

How to Contact a Landlord or Property

Once you've found a property you're interested in, you can contact the landlord or leasing office by:

• Calling them directly if a phone number is provided on the listing
• Creating an account and sending them an email through our website

Sending an Email

In order to contact property listers by email, you must be logged into your account. If you don't have an account, you can register here.

Once you log in, your contact information will be added automatically.

You can send a message to the property directly from the Rentals search page by selecting Email Property:

You can also contact the property using the contact form on the right-hand side of the listing's details page (or at the bottom for mobile devices):

When sending a message, you'll be required to share your desired move-in date. If you're not sure exactly when you'll be moving, give an estimate towards the beginning of when you'd want to start your lease. You can include your phone number, but this is optional.

In the Message field, be as specific as possible with what you're looking for and include any questions you have after reviewing the property's details and description.

Check your email inbox for a response from the property manager, as any replies will be sent directly to your account email address.

Request a Tour

If you're able to tour in-person, ask when you can schedule an appointment or if they accept walk-ins. If you're renting from distance and can't view the property in-person, ask if they can give you a live tour through FaceTime or if they have a video link that they can share with you.

Whether you're touring virtually or in-person, be sure to ask ahead of time to view the actual apartment you're interested in renting. Communities often give prospective residents tours of a "model" unit (a staged apartment designed to showcase the property), but if they know you're interested in a specific apartment, they can often show the actual unit to you as well.

Some properties permit tours even if a unit is still occupied, but if touring the actual unit isn't an option, you should still be able to view the exterior so you can get a feel for the location, parking, and general surroundings.

How to Avoid Rental Scams

We love the convenience of shopping online for an apartment, but online leasing also opens up more opportunities for scammers and fraudsters to target renters. We work hard to provide our users with a convenient and reliable source of rental listings and roommate profiles, but fraudsters are also working overtime to scam users.

Educate yourself on the red flags to look out for, and always remain vigilant. When we work together, we can take steps to make our online marketplaces the safest they can be. Be aware that we do not participate in any rental transactions and cannot refund your money if you are scammed.

While we work continuously to ensure that you have a positive experience using our site, we cannot guarantee that our sites are 100% free from false or fraudulent listings.

How to Report a Scam on the Off-Campus Rentals Website

If you think you've encountered a scam on this website, please report it immediately by selecting "Report an Issue" in the bottom-left of the listing page and reach out to customer support with any additional information.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For

1. Rent price is below market. Scammers know that innocent renters will be less cautious if they are motivated to close quickly on a deal so they don’t lose out on something too good to be true.
2. Request to wire money. Legitimate landlords do not ask renters to wire money to any account, especially an account located abroad. Nor do they ask for money from Western Union, MoneyGram, or other money transfer services.
3. Request to use another listing service or escrow account to transfer money. Scammers may impersonate legitimate listing services, like Airbnb or HomeAway, or request that money is sent to an escrow account to make renters believe they are dealing with a legitimate entity.
4. Claim of affiliation with us. Scammers may impersonate our site to make it seem like we participate in the lease transaction or transfer of funds. We do not participate in any transactions between landlords and renters, and we will never ask you for money to use our site or any of our services.
5. Dramatic landlord story. The landlord has received a job assignment abroad and must rent the unit ASAP. You are invited to drive by the building, but no one can show it to you because everyone is already living abroad. And you need to commit in the next 24 hours because dozens of people are waiting to sign the lease. A legitimate landlord will meet you in person and allow you to tour the property before asking for a deposit to secure the rental.
6. Can’t or won’t meet in person. For whatever reason, the landlord/agent refuses to meet you in person at the property. They may even send you an access code to unlock an electronic lockbox to gain entry by yourself to the house, condo, or apartment you are looking to rent.

Please visit the Avoid Scams & Fraud for more information.

✅Safety Tips to Avoid Scammers

• Don’t Pay Before Signing: A landlord should never expect payment without a signed lease agreement.
• Tour the Property: If you can’t visit in-person, have a friend tour the property for you, or request a video tour.
• Verify the Address: Verify that the property actually exists and that the photos match up. You can also use Google Images to check if the listing's photos are associated with any other rental listings (from a different property), in which case they may be stolen.
• Research the Landlord: A quick online search can show if the property is actually for rent and if the landlord's name has been associated with any scams in the past.

Real-Life Examples of Scammer Interactions

Fake owner allegedly located in the UK provides overly detailed story on why the unit is available and why she does not live in the U.S.:

Landlord who cannot deal face to face because he lives in the UK says Airbnb agent will hold a refundable deposit and give renter an opportunity to inspect the apartment: